Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh: More than 100 villagers in western Madhya Pradesh indulged in stone pelting and violence in the industrial area of Jhabua district last week, alleging that chemical factories are flouting pollution norms. The administration has arrested one person on Sunday, and shut down three factories.
After the protests on August 3, NDTV visited one of the plots belonging to the Kasta Bhanjan Chemical factory in Meghnagar area. The chemical waste allegedly dumped illegally by the factories could be seen seeping out of the land and flowing into a nearby pond.
According to local villagers, the factories have been dumping their waste in the area for the past six months. They claim that factory officials had dumped a heap of stones to cover the dumped waste after protests broke out.
The president of the local industry association has denied the charge, Prafulla Jain said, "Protests were politically motivated. We have also asked administration to check if industries are illegally dumping chemical waste... there is a need of a common effluent treatment plant here and we are trying for it.
But locals allege that there are seven more chemical factories in the area that are still dumping chemical waste illegally. One of the five affected villages is Amlipathar, where locals claim the groundwater has been contaminated.
Bijli Rathore says," I am from Amlipathar village, after consuming water I have developed sores in my mouth and am experiencing burning sensation in my stomach."
On August 9, the police arrested Gopal Gujarati for instigating the crowd, while the administration has sent soil and water samples for testing. It has even sprayed hydrogen peroxide to neutralise the chemical waste in the pond.
A senior local official, NS Balodiya, told NDTV," We have temporarily shut 3 factories. Other chemical factories have not been given clean chit we are waiting for the report and accordingly take action."
The officials are waiting for the pollution control board's report before taking any further action against the remaining chemical factories.
After the protests on August 3, NDTV visited one of the plots belonging to the Kasta Bhanjan Chemical factory in Meghnagar area. The chemical waste allegedly dumped illegally by the factories could be seen seeping out of the land and flowing into a nearby pond.
According to local villagers, the factories have been dumping their waste in the area for the past six months. They claim that factory officials had dumped a heap of stones to cover the dumped waste after protests broke out.
But locals allege that there are seven more chemical factories in the area that are still dumping chemical waste illegally. One of the five affected villages is Amlipathar, where locals claim the groundwater has been contaminated.
Advertisement
On August 9, the police arrested Gopal Gujarati for instigating the crowd, while the administration has sent soil and water samples for testing. It has even sprayed hydrogen peroxide to neutralise the chemical waste in the pond.
Advertisement
The officials are waiting for the pollution control board's report before taking any further action against the remaining chemical factories.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Madhya Pradesh's CBI Move: Agency Needs Written Consent To Probe Cases Watch: Land "Taken By Mafia", Farmer Rolls On Floor With Folded Hands Congress' Alka Lamba Accused Of Threatening To Hit Party Worker With Shoe World's Largest Isolated Tribe Makes Rare Appearance In New Footage Barack Obama Wants Joe Biden To Pull Out Of US Presidential Race: Report Relationship Timeline Of Hardik Pandya, Wife Who "Parted Ways": 5 Facts NEET PG 2024: Test Cities Out For Postgraduate Medical Entrance Exam After 53 Years, Mortar Shells From 1971 Indo-Pak War Found In Fish Pond "Humanitarian Crisis Due To Israel-Hamas Conflict Concerning": India At UN Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.